Muammar Gaddafi was buried early Tuesday morning in an unmarked grave in a modest Islamic ceremony, closing the book on his nearly 42-year rule of Libya and the eight-month civil war to oust him.

Muammar Gaddafi was buried early Tuesday morning in an unmarked grave in a modest Islamic ceremony, closing the book on his nearly 42-year rule of Libya and the eight-month civil war to oust him.

A Gaddafi nephew read a prayer for the dead before Gaddafi's body - along with those of his son Mutassim and former defense minister Abu Bakr Younis - were handed over for burial, said Ibrahim Beitalmal, a spokesman for the military council in the port city of Misrata.

The bodies had been kept in cold storage in Misrata for four days before being taken under cover of darkness to the burial site, which Beitalmal said was "not far" from the city. As part of the ceremony, the bodies were washed in line with Islamic tradition. A Muslim cleric, a nephew of Gaddafi and sons of Abu Bakr then recited prayers before handing the bodies over for burial, which took place at 5am. Libya's new leaders have said they would not reveal the location of the grave, fearing it could be vandalised or turned into a shrine for the former dictator's die-hard supporters.

Gaddafi was captured alive on Thursday as he tried to flee Sirte. He died later that day in unclear circumstances, and Libyan leaders have promised an investigation in response to international pressure to look into Gaddafi's death.

Video has emerged showing Gaddafi being beaten and abused by a mob after his capture, and researchers for the New York-based Human Rights Watch have said there are strong indications he was killed in custody.

Human rights activists have warned that the new Libya could get off on the wrong foot if vigilante justice is condoned.

However, many Libyans appeared relieved that Gaddafi is dead, saying a long trial for the former dictator would have been disruptive and made it harder on the country to get a fresh start.